Mark Beretta said that working on Sunrise was the “ultimate privilege”.

Mark Beretta leaves Sunrise after 22 years with the show. Photo: Seven

Sunrise sport presenter Mark Beretta has officially stepped down from his long-running role after more than two decades on air. Beretts, as he’s affectionately known, announced last month that he would be leaving the breakfast show as he wanted to take some time off after a “harrowing” few years.

On Friday morning, the Sunrise team paid tribute to his glittering career. Over the 22 years that he’s been on the Channel 7 programme, Beretta covered 13 Olympic Games, including the 2000 Sydney Games, as well as every big sport in the country.

There were many surprises during his final show, and one moment in particular left Beretts stunned.

Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington announced that Ian Chesterman, president of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), was in the studio to award the presenter with a Distinguished Service Award.

Mark said his Olympic coverage would be “the greatest memory” of his life, and that the award would be on proud display in his home.

He was also surprised by the Tour de Cure cyclists and crew, as Beretts has helped raise $158 million for cancer research through them.

Mark’s family joined him on the Sunrise couch, and his brother, Paul, sent a video message that had him in tears when he shared how “proud” their parents were of him.

The Sunrise team cheered for Berrets as he signed off for the last time. Photo: Seven

He thanked everyone at Sunrise and Channel 7 for the last two decades and also everyone at home who watched him every morning.

“We’ve had a lot of fun, haven’t we?” Beretts said.

“It’s just incredible, you know, this is the ultimate privilege, this job.

“You know, the people you get to meet. And I don’t just mean the team here or the sports people, it’s the people in the street, you know, our viewers are just the most magnificent people.”

Nat said that Mark would always be part of the Sunrise team and that it wouldn’t be the last time the viewers see him on the show.

The team embraced him and did three cheers before wrapping the show.

‘Incredibly hard’

Beretta told The Daily Telegraph that it’s been a “harrowing couple of years” for him, with “a lot going on away from Sunrise“.

Ultimately, this is what led to him stepping away, as he said it was “time for a reset”.

In 2019, his mother was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer, and in 2022, his father was also diagnosed with cancer. He sadly passed away earlier this year.

In 2023, his 22-year-long marriage to his wife, Rachel, ended.

“Losing Dad to cancer two months ago, and Mum fighting on against the disease, has made me see the world a little differently,” he said when announcing his decision last month.

Mark has worked with Seven for 30 years, 22 of which were on Sunrise. Photo: Seven

“Family time has become even more important.

“And I want to do more to help the great work of Tour de Cure in finding treatments and cures for cancer.”

But it wasn’t an easy decision to make, as he said, working at Sunrise had been his “dream” come true.

“I’m so proud to have been a part of Sunrise, and it’s incredibly hard to leave behind the Sunrise family and the show we have all put so much energy into for the last 22 years,” he said last month.

“If you had told me in February 1995 when I walked through the doors of Seven Melbourne for my first day that, 30 years later, I would still be doing the job I love, I wouldn’t have believed them.

“It has been an honour and I have loved every day.”

Mark Beretta has announced he’s leaving Sunrise after more than two decades. Picture: Channel 7

Mark expressed his appreciation for the support he has had from the Australian public during his tenure.

“From the bottom of my heart, thanks to all of you, our viewers, who have taken me in, treated me like family and been on this incredible fun ride with me,” he said.

Nat Barr paid homage to Beretts and the time they had spent together on the desk.

“For more than 20 years we have sat together in the Sunrise studio and what a ride it has been,” she said.

“So many amazing memories of the most special job in the world.

“You never quite leave the Sunrise family though… so see you soon Beretts.”

Seven’s Director of Morning Television, Sarah Stinson, said Mark had been the “heartbeat” of Sunrise’s sports coverage, and that his “passion” for telling peoples’ stories “have made mornings brighter for viewers right across the country”.